Mr. Partridge: Sir—From a sense
of duty, I take up my pen, to communicate to you the present impressions of my mind, which originated from facts, which occurred
during my stay there, and while returning home. I arrived safely at my home, on the 1st instant, after having passed through
a variety of scenes, some of which, I design to disclose to you in this letter.

You will probably be surprised, when
you learn, that I am no longer a member of the Mormonite church.—The circumstances which led to this are numerous, and
of such a character, that I should have been compelled to sacrifice every principle of honesty, or cease to support a system,
which I conceive to be grossly inconsistent, and in opposition to the best interests of human society.

The first thing that materially affected
my mind, so as to weaken my confidence, was the falsehood of Joseph's vision. You know perfectly well, that Joseph had, or
said he had, a vision, or revelation, in which it was made known to him by the spirit, that Oliver had raised up a large church
in Missouri.
This was so confidently believed, previous to our leaving Ohio, that while calculating the
number of the church, several hundred were added, supposed to be in Missouri.
The great church was found to consist of three or four families.

The night we took lodgings in the school
house, and the morning which succeeded it, presented circumstances which I had not anticipated.

When you intimated to Joseph that the
land which he and Oliver had selected, was inferior in point of quality to other lands adjoining, had you seen the same spirit
manifested in me, which you saw in him, would you not have concluded me to be under the influence of violent passions, bordering
on madness, rather than the meek and gentle spirit which the Gospel inculcates?

When you complained that he had abused
you, you observed to him, "I wish you not to tell us any more, that you know these by the spirit when you do not; you told
us, that Oliver had raised up a large church here, and there is no such thing;" he replied, "I see it, and it will be so".

This appeared to me, to be a shift,
better suited to an impostor, than to a true Prophet of the Lord. And from that time I resolved to weigh every circumstance;
and I can assure you that no one that has a bearing on the subject, escaped my notice.

But the spirit considered your insolence
to Joseph too intolerable to be passed over unnoticed. Hence the commandment: "If he repent not of his sins, which is unbelief
and blindness of heart, let him take heed lest he fall. Behold his mission is given unto him, and it shall not be given again."
—

You are to be careful, to submit to
all the abuse which Joseph sees fit to pour upon you; and to swallow, passively, all the spurious visions, and false prophecies,
that he in his clemency thinks proper to bestow upon you, lest you fall from your Bishoprick, never to regain it.

These men under whose influence you
act, were entire strangers to you until you embraced this new system of faith. Now, permit me to inquire, have you not frequently
observed in Joseph, a want of that sobriety, prudence and stability, which are some of the most prominent traits in the christian
character? Have you not often discovered in him, a spirit of lightness and levity, a temper easily irritated, and an habitual
proneness to jesting and joking?

Have you not often proven to your satisfaction
that he says he knows things to be so by the spirit, when they are not so? You most certainly have.

Have you not reason to believe, or at
least to suspect, that the revelations which come from him, are something short of infallible, and instead of being the production
of divine wisdom, emanate from his own weak mind?

Some suppose his weakness, nay, his
wickedness, can form no reasonable objection to his revelations; and "were he to get another man's wife, and seek to kill
her husband, it could be no reason why we should not believe revelations through him, for David did the same." So Sidney asserted, and many others concurred with him in sentiment.

The commandment we received to purchase,
or make a water craft, directed us to proceed down the river in it as far as St.
Louis, and from thence, with the exception of Joseph and his two scribes, we were to proceed on our
journey home two by two.

The means of conveyance being procured,
we embarked for St. Louis, but unpropitious events rolled on, superceded the commandment, frustrated our plans, and we had
separated before we had accomplished one half of the voyage.

The cause which produced this disastrous
result, was a spirit of animosity and discord, which made its appearance on board, the morning after we left Independence.

The conduct of the Elders became very
displeasing to Oliver, who, in the greatness of his power, uttered this malediction: "as the Lord God liveth, if you do not
behave better, some accident will befall you." The manner in which this was handed out, evinced it to be the ebullition of
a spirit, similar to that which influenced Joseph in the school-house.

No accident, however, befel them, until
Joseph, in the afternoon of the third day, assumed the direction of affairs on board that canoe, which, with other matters
of difference, together with Oliver's curse, increased the irritation of the crew, who, in time of danger, refused to exert
their physical powers, in consequence of which they ran foul of a sawyer, and were in danger of upsetting.

This was sufficient to flutter the timid
spirit of the Prophet and his scribe, who had accompanied him on board of that canoe, and like the sea-tossed mariner, when
threatened with a watery grave, they unanimously desired to set their feet once more upon something more firm than a liquid
surface; therefore, by the persuasion of Joseph, we landed before sunset, to pass the night upon the bank of the river.

Preparations were made to spend the
night as comfortably as existing circumstances would admit, and then an attempt was made, to effect a reconciliation between
the contending parties. The business of settlement elicited much conversation, and excited considerable feeling on both sides.
Oliver's denunciation was brought into view; his conduct and equipage were compared to "a fop of a sportsman;" he and Joseph
were represented as highly imperious and quite dictatorial; and Joseph and Sidney were reprimanded for their excessive cowardice.

Joseph seemed inclined to arm himself,
according to his usual custom, in case of opposition, with the judgments of God, for the purpose of pouring them, like a thunder
bolt upon the rebellious elders; but one or two retorted, "none of your threats:" which completely disarmed him, and he reserved
his judgment for a more suitable occasion.

Finding myself but little interested
in the settlement, believing the principles of discord too deeply rooted to be easily eradicated, I laid myself down upon
the ground, and in silence contemplated awhile the events of the evening, as they passed before me.

These are the men to whom the Lord has
intrusted the mysteries, and the keys of his kingdom; whom he has authorized to bind or loose on earth, and their decision
shall be ratified in Heaven.

These are the men sent forth, to promulgate
a new revelation, and to usher in a new dispensation — at whose presence the "Heavens are to shake, the hills tremble,
the mountains quake, and the earth open and swallow up their enemies." —

These are the leaders of the church,
and the only church on earth the Lord beholds with approbation.

Surely, I never witnessed so much confusion
and discord, among the Elders of any other church; nevertheless they are all doomed to be a perpetual curse; except they receive
the doctrines and precepts which Mormonism inculcates, and place themselves under the tuition of men, more ignorant and unholy
than themselves.

In the midst of meditations like these,
I sunk into the arms of sleep, but was awakened at a late hour, to witness and consent to a reconciliation between the parties.

The next morning Joseph manifested an
aversion to risk his person any more upon the rough and angry current of the Missouri, and, in fact, upon any other river;
and he again had recourse to his usual method, of freeing himself from the embarrassments of a former commandment, by obtaining
another in opposition to it.

A new commandment was issued, in which
a great curse was pronounced against the waters: navigating them was to be attended with extreme danger; and all the saints,
in general, were prohibited in journeying upon them, to the promised land. From this circumstance, the Missouri river was
named the river of Destruction.

It was decreed that we should proceed
on our journey by land, and preach by the way as we passed along. Joseph, Sidney, and Oliver were to press their way forward
with all possible speed, and to preach only in Cincinnati;
and there they were to lift up their voices, and proclaim against the whole of that wicked city.

The method by which Joseph and Co. designed
to proceed home, it was discovered, would be very expensive. "The Lord don't care how much money it takes to get us home,"
said Sidney.

Not satisfied with the money they received
from the bishop, they used their best endeavors to exact money from others, who had but little, compared with what they had;
telling them, in substance "You can beg your passage on foot, but as we are to travel in the stage we must have money."

You will find, sir, that the expense
of these three men was one hundred dollars more than three of our company expended, while on our journey home; and, for the
sake of truth and honesty, let these men never again open their mouths, to insult the common sense of mankind, by contending
for equality, and the community of goods in society, until there is a thorough alteration in their method of proceeding.

It seems, however, they had drained
their pockets, when they arrived at Cincinnati, for there
they were under the necessity of pawning their trunk, in order to continue their journey home. Here they violated the commandment,
by not preaching; and when an inquiry was made respecting the cause of that neglect, at one time they said they could get
no house to preach in; at another time they stated that they could have had the court-house, had they stayed a day or two
longer, but the Lord made it known to them that they should go on; and other similar excuses, involving like contradictions.

Thus they turn and twist the commandments
to suit their whims, and they violate them when they please with perfect impunity. They can any time obtain a commandment
suited to their desires, and as their desires fluctuate and become reversed, they get a new one to supercede the other, and
hence the contradictions which abound in this species of revelation.

The next day after, we were cast upon
the shore, and had commenced our journey by land, myself and three others went on board of a canoe, and recommenced our voyage
down the river. From this time a constant gale of prosperity wafted us forward, and not an event transpired, but what tended
to our advancement, until we arrived at our much desired homes.

At St.
Louis, we took passage in a steam-boat, and came to Wellsville; and from thence in the stage home.
We travelled afloat eight hundred miles farther than the three who took their passage in the stage, and arrived at our homes
but a few days later.—

It is true, we violated the commandment
by not preaching by the way, and so did they by not preaching at Cincinnati.
But it seems that none of us considered the commandment worthy of much notice.

In this voyage upon the waters, we demonstrated
that the great dangers existed only in imagination, and the commandment to be the offspring of a pusillanimous spirit. —

The spirit also revealed to Joseph,
that "on the steamboats, plots were already laid for our destruction." This too we proved to be false.

While descending the Missouri river,
Peter and Frederick, two of my company, divulged a secret respecting Oliver, which placed his conduct on a parallel with Ziba's;
for which Ziba [Peterson] was deprived of his Elder and Apostleship: "Let that which was bestowed upon Ziba be taken from
him, and let him stand as a member in the church, and let him labor with his own hands with the brethren." And thus by commandment,
poor Ziba, one of the twelve Apostles, is thrust down; while Oliver the scribe, also an Apostle, who had been guilty of similar
conduct, is set on high, to prepare work for the press; and no commandment touches him, only to exalt him higher. —

These two persons stated, that had they
known previous to their journey to Missouri, what they then
knew, they never should have accompanied Oliver thither.

Sidney, since his return has written a description of Zion.
But it differs essentially from that which you wrote; so much so, that either yours or his must be false.

Knowing him to be constitutionally inclined
to exaggerate, and suspecting that this habit would be as likely to preponderate in his written as in his oral communications,
you cautioned him against it. "What I write will be written by the most infallible inspiration of the holy spirit," said he
with an air of contempt. You must be careful, sir, or it will again sound in your ears, "if he repent not" for giving a false
description of the land of Zion,
let him take heed lest he fall from his office.

This, Sidney
said, was one reason why you was not permitted to return to the State of Ohio.

The want of time and paper warn me to
bring this letter to a close. And now permit me to entreat you, to candidly view the whole matter, from the commencement unto
the present time. Look at it with your eyes, and no longer suffer these strangers to blind your eyes, and daub you over with
their untempared mortar. Think how often you have been stumbled by these discordant revelations, false visions, and lying
prophecies. Put into practice the resolutions you expressed to me the morning after the collision in the school house, that
you would go home, and attend to your own business. Transfer the lands you hold in your hands, to the persons whose money
paid for it. Place yourself from under the influence of the men who have deceived you; burst asunder the bands of delusion;
fly for your life, fly from the habitations haunted by impostors; and having done this, you most surely will be glad and rejoice,
and prove to your own satisfaction, as I have done, the falsity of Joseph's prophetic declaration, "if you turn against us
you will enjoy no more satisfaction in the world."

E. B.

LETTER 1

Rev. Ira Eddy —

Dear Sir: I received yours of the 2d
inst. and heartily thank you for the favor. It revives afresh in my recollection the scenes of past years, upon the remembrance
of which, I dwell with a mixture of pleasurable and painful sensations. I arrived at my home on the 1st of the present month,
having finished my tour to the west; since which time the scenes and events in the history of my life, for the last few months,
have passed in review before my mind.

You are not, it is probable, ignorant
of the designs of my most singular and romantic undertaking: sufficient to say, it was for the purpose of exploring the promised
land—laying the foundation of the city of Zion, and placing the corner stone of the temple of God. A journey of one
thousand miles to the west, has taught me far more abundantly, than I should have probably learned from any other source.
It has taught me quite beyond my knowledge, the imbecility of human nature, and especially my own weakness. It has unfolded
in its proper character, a delusion to which I had fallen a victim, and taught me the humiliating truth, that I was exerting
the powers of both my mind and body, and sacrificing my time and property, to build up a system of delusion, almost unparalleled
in the annals of the world.

If God be a God of consistency and wisdom
I now know Mormonism to be a delusion; and this knowledge is built upon the testimony of my senses. In proclaiming it, I am
aware I proclaim my own misfortune—but in doing it, I remove a burden from my mind, and discharge a duty as humbling
to myself, as it may be profitable to others.

You had heard the story of my wanderings,
and "was induced to believe that I had been visited with a species of mental derangement," and therefore, you "had given me
up, as one among those friends of early association, who in the lapse of time, would be as though they had not existed." You
had concluded that the magic charm of delusion and falsehood, had so wrapped its sable mantle around me, as to exclude the
light of truth and secure me a devoted slave. But thanks be to God! the spell is dissipated, and the "captive exile hasteneth
that he may be loosed, and not die in the pit."

When I embraced Mormonism, I conscientiously
believed it to be of God. The impressions of my mind were deep and powerful, and my feelings were exerted to a degree to which
I had been a stranger. Like a ghost, it haunted me by night and day, until I was mysteriously hurried, as it were by a kind
of necessity, into the vortex of delusion. At times I was much elated; but generally, things in prospect were the greatest
stimulants to action.

On our arrival in the western part of
the State of Missouri, the place of our destination, we
discovered that prophecy and vision had failed, or rather had proved to be false. This fact was so notorious, and the evidence
so clear that no one could mistake it—so much so, that Mr. Rigdon himself said that "Joseph's vision was a bad thing."
This was glossed over, apparently, to the satisfaction of most persons present; but not fully to my own. It excited a suspicion
that some things were not right, and prepared my mind for the investigation of a variety of circumstances, which occurred
during my residence there, and indeed, to review the whole subject, from its commencement to that time.

My opportunities for a thorough investigation,
were far greater than they could have been, had I remained at home; and therefore, I do not regret that I made the journey,
though I sincerely regret the cause of it. Since my return, I have had several interviews with Messrs. Smith, Rigdon and Cowdery,
and the various shifts and turns, to which they resorted in order to obviate objectors and difficulties, produced in my mind
additional evidence, that there was nothing else than a deeply laid plan of craft and deception.

The relation in which Smith stands to
the church, is that of a Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator; and when he speaks by the Spirit, or says he knows a thing
by the communication of the Spirit, it is received as coming directly from the mouth of the Lord.

When he says he knows a thing to be
so, thus it must stand without controversy. A question is agitated between two Elders of the church—whether or not a
bucket of water will become heavier by putting a living fish into it. Much is said by each of the disputants; when at length,
Smith decides it in the negative, by saying—"I know by the Spirit, that it will be no heavier." Any person who chooses,
may easily ascertain by actual experiment, whether the Prophet was influenced in this decision, by a true or false spirit.

It is not my design, at this time, to
enter into particulars relative to the evidence upon which my renunciation of Mormonism is founded. This evidence is derived
from various sources, and is clear and full, and the conviction which it produces, at least on my mind, is irresistible. You
are not aware of the nature of this deception, and the spirit that uniformly attends it; nor can you ever know it, unless
you yield to its influence, and by experience learn what it is to fall under its power: "from which my earnest prayer is,
that you may ever, ever escape."

Sidney: When we do it, the Lord will come There probably never was a plan better suited to lead the sinner
and the conscientious, when in an unguarded hour they listen to its fatal insinuations. The plan is so ingeniously contrived,
having for its aim one principal point, viz: the establishment of a society in Missouri,
over which the contrivers of this delusive system, are to possess unlimited and despotic sway. To accomplish this, the Elders
of the church, by commandment given in Missouri, and of which I was both an eye and an ear witness, are to go forth to preach
Mormonism to every creature; and now, said Mr. Rigdon—"The Lord has set us our stint; no matter how soon we perform
it— for when this is done, he will make his second appearance."

I do sincerely, and I trust in deep
humility, return unfeigned gratitude to the God of infinite mercy, who, in condescension to my weakness, by a peculiar train
of providences, brought me to the light, enabled me to see the hidden things of darkness, and delivered me from the snare
of the fowler, and from the contagious pestilence which threatened my entire destruction. The scenes of the past few months,
are so different from all others in my life, that they are in truth to me "as a dream when one awaketh." Had my fall affected
only myself, my reflections would be far less painful than they now are.

But to know—that whatever influence
I may have possessed, has been exerted to draw others into a delusion, from which they may not soon be extricated, is to me
a source of sorrow and deep regret. They are at this moment the object of my greatest anxiety and commiseration. I crave their
forgiveness, and assure them, that they will ever have an interest in my addresses to the throne of grace. It shall be my
endeavor to undo, as far as possible, what I have done in this case, and also to prevent the spread of a delusion, pernicious
in its influence, and destructive in its consequences to the body and the soul—to the present and eternal interests
of all men.

I am, through restoring mercy and grace,
as in former years, though unworthily, yet affectionately yours in Christ,

EZRA BOOTH.

LETTER 2

Were there none but myself interested
in the exposition of Mormonism, I can assure you my time would be otherwise employed than in writing upon a subject which
has heretofore been to me one of deep interest, and at times has occasioned a painful anxiety of mind. I could wish, if possible,
to bury it in oblivion; and to remember it no more forever. But as this is a thing which cannot be accomplished in a moment,
for the sake of others, who may be exposed to the delusion, from which, through the mercy of God, I have been recovered, and
others who are at present involved in it: and also in compliance with your request, I will, as far as I have ability, unfold
a system of darkness, fraught with glaring absurdity, and deceptive as falsehood itself.

This system, to some, carries the face
of plausibility, and appears under an imposing form. It claims the Bible for its patron and proffers the restoration of the
apostolic church, with all the gifts and graces with which the primitive saints were endowed.

It is called the fullness of the gospel
of both Jew and Gentile: and is the test by which every man's faith is to be tried. Judgments are denounced against the sinners
of this generation; or in other words, all who reject the Book of Mormon, are threatened with eternal damnation. Great promises
are made to such as embrace it, signs and wonders are to attend them, such as healing the sick, the blind made to see, the
lame to walk, &c.; and they are to receive an everlasting inheritance in "the land of Missouri," where the Savior will
make his second appearance; at which place the foundation of the temple of God, and the City of Zion, have been laid, and
are soon to be built.

It is also to be a city of Refuge, and a safe asylum when the storms of vengeance shall pour upon
the earth, and those who reject the Book of Mormon, shall be swept off as with the besom of destruction. Then shall the riches
of the Gentile be consecrated to the Mormonites; they shall have lands and cattle in abundance, and shall possess the gold
and silver, and all the treasures of their enemies.

The Mormonite preachers go forth proclaiming
repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost. The form
of baptism is similar to other orders; only it is prefaced with—"having authority given me of Jesus Christ;" also, the
laying on of hands—"In the name of Jesus Christ, receive ye the Holy Ghost."

High Priesthood, order of Melchizedek

Many of them have been ordained to the
High Priesthood, or the order of Melchisedec; and profess to be endowed with the same power as the ancient apostles were.
But they have been hitherto unsuccessful in finding the lame, the halt, and the blind, who had faith sufficient to become
the subjects of their miracles: and it is now concluded that this work must be postponed until they get to Missouri; for the Lord will not show those signs to this wicked and adulterous generation.
In the commandment given to the churches in the State of New York, to remove to the State
of Ohio, they were assured that these miracles should be wrought in the State of Ohio; but now they must be deferred until they are settled in Missouri.

Revelations hidden from world As the
Mormonite church depends principally upon the commandments, and as most of them are concealed from the world, it will be necessary
to make some statement respecting them. These commandments come from Smith, at such times and on such occasions as he feels
disposed to speak, and Rigdon or Cowdery to write them.

Their exact number I have never taken
pains to ascertain. I have the "27th commandment to Emma my daughter in Zion;" and should presume there are betwixt fifty
and a hundred.— They received the addition of five or six while in Missouri; and these are considered a miracle in themselves,
sufficient to convince any rational mind. But none but the strong in faith are permitted to witness their origin.

I had an opportunity of seeing this
wonderful exhibition of the wisdom and power of God, at three different times; and I must say, that it bore striking marks
of human weakness and wickedness. They are received in the church as divinely inspired, and the name of the Lord is substituted
for that of Smith. They are called "The Commandments of the Lord."

They are considered "The mysteries of
the Kingdom;" and to divulge them to the world, is the same as casting pearls before swine. When they and the Scriptures are
at variance, the Scriptures are wrongly translated; and Smith, though totally ignorant of the original, being a translator
or an alterator, can easily harmonize them.

Every thing in the church is done by
commandment: and yet it is said to be done by the voice of the church. For instance, Smith gets a commandment that he shall
be the "head of the church," or that he "shall rule the Conference," or that the Church shall build him an elegant house,
and give him 1000 dollars. For this the members of the church must vote, or they will be cast off for rebelling against the
commandments of the Lord.

In addition to the Book of Mormon, and
the commandments, there are revelations which are not written.—In this department, though Smith is the principal, yet
there are others who profess to receive revelations; but after all, Smith is to decide whether they come from the Lord or
the devil. Some have been so unfortunate as to have their revelations palmed off upon the latter.

These revelations entirely supercede
the Bible, and in fact, the Bible is declared too defective to be trusted, in its present form; and it is designed that it
shall undergo a thorough alteration, or as they say, translation. This work is now in operation. The Gospel of St. Matthew
has already received the purifying touch, and is prepared for the use of the church.

Their revelations are said to be an
addition to the Bible.—But instead of being an addition, they destroy its use; for everything which need be known, whether
present, past or future, they can learn from Smith, for he has declared to the church, that he "knows all things that will
take place from this time to the end of the world." If then, placing the Bible under circumstances which render it entirely
useless, is infidelity, Mormonism is infidelity.

Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, Oliver
Cowdery, and Martin Harris, may be considered as the principals in this work; and let Martin Harris tell the story, and he
is the most conspicuous of the four.—

He informed me, that he went to the
place where Joseph resided, and Joseph had given it up, on account of the opposition of his wife and others: but he told Joseph.
"I have not come down here for nothing, and we will go on with it."

Martin Harris is what may be called
a great talker, and an extravagant boaster; so much so, that he renders himself disagreeable to many of his society. The money
he has expended, and the great things he has done, form a considerable topic of his conversation; he understands all prophecies,
and knows every thing by the spirit, and he can silence almost any opposer by talking faster, and louder than he can: or by
telling him, "I know every thing and you know nothing: I am a wise man and you are a fool;" and in this respect, he stands
a fair sample of many others in the church. Yours affectionately,

E. BOOTH

From the time that Mormonism first made
its appearance upon the stage, until the grand tour of the Missouri, an expectation universally pervaded the church, that
the time was not far distant, when the deaf, the dumb, the maimed, the blind, &c. would become the subjects of the miraculous
power of God, so that every defect in their systems would be entirely removed.

This expectation originated from, and
was grounded upon a variety of premises, included in a number of commandments, or verbal revelations from Smith, or, as he
is styled "the head of the church."

As the 4th of June last was appointed
for the sessions of the conference, it was ascertained, that that was the time specified, when the great and mighty work was
to be commenced, and such was the confidence of some, that knowledge superceded their faith, and they did not hesitate to
declare themselves perfectly assured that the work of miracles would commence at the ensuing conference.

With such strong assurances, and with
the most elevated expectations, the conference assembled at the time appointed. To give, if possible, energy to expectation,
Smith, the day before the conference, professing to be filled with the spirit of prophecy, declared, that "not three days
should pass away, before some should see their Savior, face to face."

Soon after the session commenced, Smith
arose to harangue the conference. He reminded those present of the prophecy, which he said "was given by the spirit yesterday."
He wished them not to be overcome with surprise, when that event ushered in. He continued, until by long speaking, himself
and some others became much excited.

He then laid his hands on the head of
Elder Wight, who had participated largely in the warm feeling of his leader, and ordained him to the High Priesthood.

He was set apart for the service of
the Indians, and was ordained to the gift of tongues, healing the sick, casting out devils, and discerning spirits; and in
like manner he ordained several others; and then called upon Wight to take the floor.

Wight arose, and presented a pale countenance,
a fierce look, with his arms extended, and his hands cramped back, the whole system agitated, and a very unpleasant object
to look upon. He exhibited himself as an instance of the great power of God, and called upon those around him "if you want
to see a sign, look at me."

He then stepped upon a bench, and declared
with a loud voice, he saw the Savior: and thereby, for the time being, rescued Smith's prophecy from merited contempt.—It,
however, procured Wight the authority to ordain the rest. So said the spirit, and so said Smith.

The spirit in Smith selected those to
be ordained, and the spirit in Wight ordained them. But the spirit in Wight proved an erring dictator; so much so, that some
of the candidates felt the weight of hands thrice, before the work was rightly done.

Another Elder, who had been ordained
to the same office as Wight, at the bidding of Smith, stepped upon the floor. Then ensued a scene, of which you can form no
adequate conception; and which, I would forbear relating, did not the truth require it.

The Elder moved upon the floor, his
legs inclining to a bend; one shoulder elevated above the other, upon which the head seemed disposed to recline, his arms
partly extended; his hands partly clenched; his mouth partly open, and contracted in the shape of an italic O; his eyes assumed
a wild ferocious cast, and his whole appearance presented a frightful object to the view of the beholder.—

"Speak, Brother Harvey" said Smith.
But Harvey intimated by signs, that his power of articulation
was in a state of suspense, and that he was unable to speak.

Some conjectured that Harvey was possessed of the devil, but Smith said, "the Lord binds in order to set at liberty."

After different opinions had been given,
and there had been much confusion, Smith learnt by the spirit, that Harvey
was under a diabolical influence, and that Satan had bound him; and he commanded the unclean spirit to come out of him.

It now became clearly manifest, that
"the man of sin was revealed," for the express purpose that the elders should become acquainted with the devices of Satan;
and after that they would possess knowledge sufficient to manage him. This, Smith declared to be a miracle, and his success
in this case, encouraged him to work other and different miracles.

Taking the hand of one of the Elders
in his own, a hand which by accident had been rendered defective, he said, "Brother Murdock, I command you in the name of
Jesus Christ to straighten your hand; in the mean while endeavoring to accomplish the work by using his own hand to open the
hand of the other. The effort proved unsuccessful; but he again articulated the same commandment, in a more authoritative
and louder tone of voice; and while uttering with his tongue, his hands were at work; but after all the exertion of his power,
both natural and supernatural, the deficient hand returned to its former position, where it still remains.

But ill success in this case, did not
discourage him from undertaking another. One of the Elders who was decriped in one of his legs, was set upon the floor, and
commanded, in the name of Jesus Christ to walk. He walked a step or two, his faith failed, and he was again compelled to have
recourse to his former assistant, and he has had occasion to use it ever since.

A dead body, which had been retained
above ground two or three days, under the expectation that the dead would be raised, was insensible to the voice of those
who commanded it to awake into life, and is destined to sleep in the grave till the last trump shall sound, and the power
of God easily accomplishes the work, which frustrated the attempts, and bid defiance to the puny efforts of the Mormonite.*

* That an attempt was made to raise
the child, is denied, of course, as every other attempt has been, after its entire failure was obvious to all. The parents
of the deceased child, however, state, that they were prevented from procuring medical aid for the child, by the representations
of the elders, that it was in no danger—that it would certainly be restored. The father had no other idea but that the
child was to be raised; neither did his faith fail him till preparations were made for its interment. He then awoke from his
dream of delusion, and dissolved his connexion with the imposters.

Under these discouraging circumstances,
the horizon of Mormonism gathered darkness, and a storm seemed to hang impending over the church. The gloom of disappointed
expectation, overspread the countenances of many, while they labored to investigate the cause of this failure. To add, if
possible, to their mortification, a larger assembly collected on the Sabbath, in order to hear preaching. In the midst of
the meeting the congregation was dismissed by Rigdon, and the people sent to their homes. He was directed to do this, he said,
by the spirit. But it was generally believed, that he was directed solely by fear; and that he had mistaken the spirit of
cowardice, for the spirit of the Lord. Several of the Elders said they "felt the spirit to preach" to the congregation: and
Rigdon felt the spirit to send the people home: such was the unity which then prevailed among them.

You will doubtless say, can it be possible
that the minds of men, and men who possess the appearance of honesty, can be so strangely infatuated, as still to adhere to
a system, after it had occasioned so much agitation, and so much disappointment. One reason which can be assigned for this,
is, the adherents are generally inclined to consider the system so perfect, as to admit of no suspicion; and the confusion
and disappointment, are attributed to some other cause. Another, and principal reason is, delusion always effects the mind
with a species of delirium, and this delirium arises in a degree proportionate to the magnitude of the delusion. These men,
upon other subjects, will converse like other men; but when their favorite system is brought into view, its inconsistencies
and contradictions are resolved into inexplicable mystery; and this will not only apply to the delusions now under consideration,
but in my view, to every delusion, from the highest to the lowest; and it matters not whether it carries the stamp of popularity
or its opposite.

Yours affectionately, EZRA
BOOTH.

Letter 5

In my last letter I gave you a faint
representation of the events which transpired and the circumstances which attended the meeting of the Mormonite Conference.
Though many stumbled, yet none irrecoverably fell.

Another grand object was presented,
and the attention was somewhat diverted from these scenes of disappointment, through which we had recently passed. The tour
to the Missouri, revived the sinking expectations, and gave
new energy to faith and hope. In that distant region, anticipation was to be realized in full, and the objects of faith and
hope, were to become the objects of knowledge and fruition.

A commandment was received, and Elders
were directed to take their journey for the "promised land." They were commanded to go two by two, with the exception of Rigdon,
Smith, Harris, and Partridge; and it was designed that these should find an easier method of transporting themselves, than
to travel that distance on foot. They were careful to make suitable provision for themselves, both in money and other articles,
that while on their journey, they might carry the appearance of gentlemen filling some important station in life; while many,
who were destined to travel on foot, with packs on their backs, were so fixed with the ardor of enthusiasm, that they supposed
they could travel to Missouri with but little or no money. These carried the appearance, and were justly entitled to the character
of beggars, for when the little money they took with them was expended, they subsisted by begging, until they arrived at their
journey's end.

Being myself one of the number selected
to perform the journey by land, and not being much accustomed to travel on foot, I hesitated for a while; but believing it
to be the will of God, I resolved on an unreserved surrender of myself to the work, and on the 15th of June, in company with
the one appointed to travel with me, took up my line of march for Missouri. I do not design to trouble you with a relation
of the particulars, but will observe, that after I left the north part of the State of Ohio,
I made a speedy and prosperous journey to Missouri. I preached
twice in Ohio, thrice in Indiana, once in Illinois,
and once in Missouri.

We were commanded to preach by the spirit,
and my impressions were, that farther to the westward, I should enjoy more of the spirit's influence; and though I travelled
one thousand miles to the west, my anticipations in this respect, were never realized. I seldom proclaimed Mormonism with
that liberty which I enjoyed in my public exercises, while a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I supposed that at
some future time, the spirit would endow me to preach with an unusual degree of liberty. That period has never arrived, and
I am persuaded it never will, and I now sincerely desire the spirit of truth to direct my pen, while I endeavor to expose
the errors and absurdities of the system I then advocated.

When we arrived at the place to which
our mission destined us, we perceived to our mortification, that disappointment, instead of being confined to the State of
Ohio, had journeyed thither before us. We would gladly have
avoided here an interview with this, our old companion; but this was impossible, she met us, and stared us in the face which
way so ever we turned, nor was it possible to look her out of countenance, or put the blush upon her pallid features, or expel
her from our society. Some were for making the best of her they could; but for myself, I resolved that she should be expelled,
or at any rate, that her visits should be less frequent, or I would abandon the habituation entirely.

When we commenced our journey for Missouri, we expected an "effectual door" would be opened, to proclaim
the new system of faith, in that region; and that those who were ordained to the gift of tongues, would have an opportunity
to display their supernatural talent, in communicating to the Indians, in their own dialect. Some who were ordained to this
office, absolutely knew that through this medium, they should gain access to the natives; and I will venture to say, I know,
that their success will be similar to that of their predecessor, Oliver Cowdery, who stated that he was endowed with the same
fore knowledge. But the event has proved his presumption false.

For more than two weeks, while I remained
there, the disposition of the Elders appeared to be averse to preaching, either to the white or the red people, and indeed
adverse circumstances prevented it.

We expected to assemble together in
conference according to the commandment, and the Lord would signally display his power, for the confirmation of our faith;
but we commenced our journey home before most of the Elders arrived.

It is true, a conference was held, but
it was considered so unimportant, that myself and another man were permitted to be absent, for the purpose of procuring the
means of conveyance down the river.

We expected to find a large church,
which Smith said, was revealed to him in a vision, Oliver had raised up there. This large church was found to consist of four
females.

We expected to witness the exercise
if those miraculous gifts, to which some were ordained while in the State of Ohio.
But the same difficulty, the same want of faith among the people, which counteracted them here, prevailed there; consequently
no miracles could be wrought.

We expected to see the foundation of
the City and temple laid; and this we were permitted to see, and it was in fact a curiosity, but not worth going to Missouri
to see.

The honor of consecrating the land,
&c. was conferred on Rigdon.—The commandment reads thus:

"let my servant Sidney consecrate and
dedicate the land, and the spot for the Temple"—again, "Behold I give unto my servant Sidney a commandment, that he
shall write a description of the land of Zion, and a statement of the will of God, as it shall be made known to him by the
spirit unto him, and an epistle and subscription to be presented unto all the Churches, to obtain money to purchase lands,
for the an inheritance of for the children of God, of himself or the agent, as seemeth him good, or as he shall direct.; for
behold, verily I say unto you the Lord willeth that his Disciples, and the children of men, should open their hearts, even
to purchase the this whole region of country as soon as time will permit. Behold here is wisdom; let them do this, lest they
receive none inheritance, save it be by the shedding of blood."

The childish exultation of the Mormonite
leaders, while they echoed and reechoed, the Lord has given us this whole region of country; "this whole region of country
is ours;" when it was manifest, agreeable to the commandment, that the gift was only obtained, by purchasing it at a dear
rate with money, and that, in order to save themselves the trouble of "the shedding of blood," would, under other circumstances,
have been truly diverting. But when viewing it as an instance of a deep laid scheme, and the cunning artifice of crafty impostors,
designed to allure the credulous and the unsuspecting, into a state of unqualified vassalage, it presents a melancholy picture
of the depravity of the human heart, while destitute of those virtues, inculcated in the Gospel by the blessed Redeemer.

It was conjectured by the inhabitants
of Jackson county, that the Mormonites, as a body are wealthy, and many of them entertain fears, that next December, when
the list of land is exposed for sale, they will out-bid others, and establish themselves as the most powerful body in the
county.—

But they may dismiss their fears in
this respect; for the Mormonites as a body, are comparatively poor, and destined so to remain, until they pursue a different
course as it relates to economy and industry, from what they have hitherto pursued. There were ten families, which came by
water, landed there the day on which I arrived; and all the land which the Bishop said they had means to purchase, was less
than thirty acres to the family; and thirty acres in that country, is little enough for wood and timber land; as fifteen acres
upon an average here, are worth thirty there. Neither need they fear that the Mormonites, were they so disposed, will obtain
the possession of their lands "by shedding of blood," until the spirit selects more courageous leaders than Smith or Rigdon.
Yours affectionately,

EZRA BOOTH.

Letter 6

It is well know[n] that the ostensible
design of the Mormonites in settling in the western part of Missouri,
is to convert the Indians to the faith of Mormonism. In this, the leaders appear to have in view, as a mode, the Jesuits of
the 16th century, who established themselves in South America, by gaining an entire ascendancy
over the hearts and consciences of the natives, and thereby became their masters.

As Independence
is the place of general rendezvous and head quarters of the Mormonites, it may not be amiss to notice it. It is a new town,
containing a court house built of brick, two or three merchant's stores, and 15 or 20 dwelling houses, built mostly of logs
hewed on both sides; and is situated on a handsome rise of ground, about three miles south of [the] Missouri river, and about
12 miles east of the dividing line between the United States and the Indian Reserve, and is the county seat of Jackson county.

In this place it is designed to establish
the Lord's printing press, of which Wm. W. Phelps and O. Cowdery are to have the management; and also, the Lord's store-house,
committed in charge to S. Gilbert. By the means of these two grand engines, they expect to make the wicked feel the weight
of their tremendous power.

West of the line lies the territory,
selected by the government of the United States, for the future residence of the Indians; to which place, a number of tribes
have recently moved.

No Indian converts The question is frequently
asked, do the Indians seem disposed to receive Mormonism; or have any of them yet embraced it? To which question I have heard
some of the leaders reply, "O yes," when the truth is, not an individual had embraced it when I left that place. Nor is there
any prospect they will embrace it.

It is true, that some of the Indians
appear to listen with a degree of attention, while the Mormonite teacher pretends to disclose to them the secrets of their
origins, the history of their ancestors, and that the great Spirit designs, in this generation, to restore them to the possession
of their lands, now occupied by the whites; and the Indians shall go forth among the white people, "as a lion among the beasts
of the forests, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth to
pieces, and no man can deliver. Thy hand shall be lifted up against thy adversaries, (the whites) and all their enemies (the
whites) shall be cut off."

Here you have a fair specimen of the
method adopted in the Book of Mormon, and preached by the Mormonite teachers, for the purpose of enlisting the feelings, and
ingratiating themselves with the Indians; and should success attend their endeavors, and the minds of the Indians become inflamed
with the enthusiastic spirit which Mormonism inspires, they may be inclined to try the experiment, whether "by shedding of
blood," they can expel the white inhabitants, or reduce them to a state of servitude; and by this means, regain the possession
of the lands occupied by their forefathers.

The laying of the foundation of Zion was attended with considerable parade and an ostentatious display
of talents, both by Rigdon and Cowdery. The place being designated as the site where the city was to commence, on the day
appointed we repaired to the spot, not only as spectators, but each one to act the part assigned him in the great work of
laying the foundation of the "glorious city of New Jerusalem." Rigdon consecrated the ground, by an address, in the first
place to the God whom the Mormons profess to worship; and then making some remarks respecting the extraordinary purpose for
which we were assembled, prepared the way for administering the oath of allegiance to those who were to receive their "everlasting
inheritance" in that city. He laid them under the most solemn obligations to constantly obey all the commandments of Smith.
He enjoined it upon them to express a great degree of gratitude for the free donation, and then, as the Lord's Vicegerent,
he gratuitously bestowed upon them, that for which they had paid an exorbitant price in money.

These preliminaries being ended, a shrub
oak, about ten inches in diameter at the butt, the best that could be obtained near at hand, was prostrated, trimmed, and
cut off at a suitable length; and twelve men, answering to the twelve apostles, by means of handspikes, conveyed it to the
place.

Cowdery craved the privilege of laying
the corner-stone. He selected a small rough stone, the best he could find, carried it in one hand to the spot, removed the
surface of the earth to prepare a place for its reception, and then displayed his oratorical power, in delivering an address,
suited to the important occasion.

The stone being placed, one end of the
shrub oak stick was laid upon it; and there was laid down the first stone and stick, which are to form an essential part of
the splendid city of Zion.

The next day the ground for the temple
was consecrated, and Smith claimed the honour of laying the corner-stone himself. Should the inhabitants of Independence feel
a desire to visit this place, destined at some future time to become celebrated, they will have only to walk one half of a
mile out of the town, to a rise of ground, a short distance south of the road. They will be able to ascertain the spot by
the means of a sapling, distinguished from the others by the bark being broken off on the north and on the east side. On the
south side of the sapling will be found the letter T, which stands for temple; and on the east side ZOM! for Zomas; which
Smith says is the original word for Zion. Near the foot of
the sapling they will find a small stone covered over with bushes, which were cut for that purpose.

This is the corner-stone for the temple.
They can there have the privilege of beholding the mighty work, accomplished by about thirty men, who left their homes, traveled
one thousand miles, most of them on foot, and expended more than $1000 in cash.

Having completed the work, or rather
finding but little business for us to accomplish in Missouri,
most of us became anxious to return home. And none appeared to be more so than Rigdon and Smith, whose plans for future subsistence
were considerably frustrated. They expected to find a country abounding with the necessaries and comforts of life. But the
prospect appeared somewhat gloomy, and will probably remain so for some years to come.

That they were disappointed, is evident
from the change which appeared in their calculations. Before they went to Missouri, their language was "we shall winter in
Ohio but one winter more;" and when in Missouri, "it will be many years before we come here, for the Lord has a great work
for us to do in Ohio," and the great work is, to make a thorough alteration of the Bible, and invent new revelations, and
these are to be sent to Missouri, in order to be printed.

This coming to save the expense of postage,
is parallel with their other calculations. But no matter for that, it will save them the difficulties and hardships incident
to the settling of a new country; and also the dangers to which they would be exposed, in case the Indians should commence
hostilities upon the whites; and moreover, they have an easy method to supply themselves with cash at any time when occasion
requires. The authority of a commandment will easily untie the purse strings of those whose consciences are under their control;
and they find it much easier, and better suited to their dispositions, to write commandments, than to gain a livelihood by
the sweat of the brow: and indeed, Smith has commanded himself not to labor, and by his mandate, has enjoined it upon the
church to support him. The Bishop, when we were in Missouri,
intimated that he and others were too much inclined to indolence.—He replied, "I am commanded not to labor."

Yours affectionately, EZRA
BOOTH.

Letter 7

The following, with but a little variation,
is the copy of a letter to the Bishop of the Mormonite church, who by commandment, has received his station, and now resides
in Missouri. His business is to superintend the secular
concerns of the church. He holds a deed to the lands, and the members receive a writing from him, signifying, that they are
to possess the land as their own, so long as they are obedient to Smith's commandments.

The Bishop is, in reality, the Vicegerant
of Smith, and those in coalition with him; and holds his office during their will and pleasure. I think him to be an honest
man as yet, but there is a point beyond which he cannot go, unless he prostrates his honor in the dust, and prostitutes his
conscience to the vilest of purposes.

But he was commanded to buy 1,000 acres
He has frequently staggered and been ready to fall. The conference last year, gave him a tremendous shock, from which with
difficulty he recovered. The law of the church enjoins, that no debt with the world shall be contracted. But a thousand acres
of land in the town of Thompson could be purchased for one
half its value, and he was commanded to secure it; and in order to do it, he was under the necessity to contract a debt to
the world. He hesitated, but the command was repeated, "you must secure the land."

He was one of the number who was ordained
to the gift of discerning spirits; and in a commandment, a pattern was given by which the good spirit might be distinguished
from the bad, which rendered the gift of supernatural discernment useless: for the division was to be made from external appearances,
and not from any thing discovered internally. He saw the impropriety, and it shook his faith.

I am suspicious the time is not far
distant, when by commandment, this office will be bestowed upon a more trusty and confidential person; perhaps Smith's brother
or father, or some one who has been disciplined in the State of New York.
Then it will become his business to make over the whole property, by deed of conveyance, to the person appointed by the commandment
to supercede him.

The Mormonites will tell you, that business
of this nature is done by the voice of the church. It is like this: a sovereign issues his decrees, and then says to his subjects,
hold up your right hands, in favor of my decrees being carried into effect. Should any refuse, they are sure to be hung for
rebellion.

SEPTEMBER 20, 1831.

Mr. Partridge:

Sir—From a sense of duty, I take
up my pen, to communicate to you the present impressions of my mind, which originated from facts, which occurred during my
stay there, and while returning home. I arrived safely at my home, on the 1st instant, after having passed through a variety
of scenes, some of which, I design to disclose to you in this letter.

You will probably be surprised, when
you learn, that I am no longer a member of the Mormonite church.—The circumstances which led to this are numerous, and
of such a character, that I should have been compelled to sacrifice every principle of honesty, or cease to support a system,
which I conceive to be grossly inconsistent, and in opposition to the best interests of human society.

The first thing that materially affected
my mind, so as to weaken my confidence, was the falsehood of Joseph's vision. You know perfectly well, that Joseph had, or
said he had, a vision, or revelation, in which it was made known to him by the spirit, that Oliver had raised up a large church
in Missouri. This was so confidently believed, previous
to our leaving Ohio, that while calculating the number of the church, several hundred were
added, supposed to be in Missouri. The great church was
found to consist of three or four families.

The night we took lodgings in the school
house, and the morning which succeeded it, presented circumstances which I had not anticipated.

When you intimated to Joseph that the
land which he and Oliver had selected, was inferior in point of quality to other lands adjoining, had you seen the same spirit
manifested in me, which you saw in him, would you not have concluded me to be under the influence of violent passions, bordering
on madness, rather than the meek and gentle spirit which the Gospel inculcates?

When you complained that he had abused
you, you observed to him, "I wish you not to tell us any more, that you know these by the spirit when you do not; you told
us, that Oliver had raised up a large church here, and there is no such thing;" he replied, "I see it,and it will be so".

This appeared to me, to be a shift,
better suited to an impostor, than to a true Prophet of the Lord. And from that time I resolved to weigh every circumstance;
and I can assure you that no one that has a bearing on the subject, escaped my notice.

But the spirit considered your insolence
to Joseph too intolerable to be passed over unnoticed. Hence the commandment: "If he repent not of his sins, which is unbelief
and blindness of heart, let him take heed lest he fall. Behold his mission is given unto him, and it shall not be given again."

You are to be careful, to submit to
all the abuse which Joseph sees fit to pour upon you; and to swallow, passively, all the spurious visions, and false prophecies,
that he in his clemency thinks proper to bestow upon you, lest you fall from your Bishoprick, never to regain it.

These men under whose influence you
act, were entire strangers to you until you embraced this new system of faith. Now, permit me to inquire, have you not frequently
observed in Joseph, a want of that sobriety, prudence and stability, which are some of the most prominent traits in the christian
character? Have you not often discovered in him, a spirit of lightness and levity, a temper easily irritated, and an habitual
proneness to jesting and joking?

Have you not often proven to your satisfaction
that he says he knows things to be so by the spirit, when they are not so? You most certainly have.

Have you not reason to believe, or at
least to suspect, that the revelations which come from him, are something short of infallible, and instead of being the production
of divine wisdom, emanate from his own weak mind?

Some suppose his weakness, nay, his
wickedness, can form no reasonable objection to his revelations; and "were he to get another man's wife, and seek to kill
her husband, it could be no reason why we should not believe revelations through him, for David did the same." So Sidney asserted, and many others concurred with him in sentiment.

The commandment we received to purchase,
or make a water craft, directed us to proceed down the river in it as far as St.
Louis, and from thence, with the exception of Joseph and his two scribes, we were to proceed on our
journey home two by two.

The means of conveyance being procured,
we embarked for St. Louis, but unpropitious events rolled on, superceded the commandment, frustrated our plans, and we had
separated before we had accomplished one half of the voyage.

The cause which produced this disastrous
result, was a spirit of animosity and discord, which made its appearance on board, the morning after we left Independence.

Oliver threatens "accident" The conduct
of the Elders became very displeasing to Oliver, who, in the greatness of his power, uttered this malediction: "as the Lord
God liveth, if you do not behave better, some accident will befall you." The manner in which this was handed out, evinced
it to be the ebullition of a spirit, similar to that which influenced Joseph in the school-house.

No accident, however, befel them, until
Joseph, in the afternoon of the third day, assumed the direction of affairs on board that canoe, which, with other matters
of difference, together with Oliver's curse, increased the irritation of the crew, who, in time of danger, refused to exert
their physical powers, in consequence of which they ran foul of a sawyer, and were in danger of upsetting.

This was sufficient to flutter the timid
spirit of the Prophet and his scribe, who had accompanied him on board of that canoe, and like the sea-tossed mariner, when
threatened with a watery grave, they unanimously desired to set their feet once more upon something more firm than a liquid
surface; therefore, by the persuasion of Joseph, we landed before sunset, to pass the night upon the bank of the river.

Preparations were made to spend the
night as comfortably as existing circumstances would admit, and then an attempt was made, to effect a reconciliation between
the contending parties. The business of settlement elicited much conversation, and excited considerable feeling on both sides.
Oliver's denunciation was brought into view; his conduct and equipage were compared to "a fop of a sportsman;" he and Joseph
were represented as highly imperious and quite dictatorial; and Joseph and Sidney were reprimanded for their excessive cowardice.

Joseph seemed inclined to arm himself,
according to his usual custom, in case of opposition, with the judgments of God, for the purpose of pouring them, like a thunder
bolt upon the rebellious elders; but one or two retorted, "none of your threats:" which completely disarmed him, and he reserved
his judgment for a more suitable occasion.

Finding myself but little interested
in the settlement, believing the principles of discord too deeply rooted to be easily eradicated, I laid myself down upon
the ground, and in silence contemplated awhile the events of the evening, as they passed before me.

These are the men to whom the Lord has
intrusted the mysteries, and the keys of his kingdom; whom he has authorized to bind or loose on earth, and their decision
shall be ratified in Heaven.

These are the men sent forth, to promulgate
a new revelation, and to usher in a new dispensation — at whose presence the "Heavens are to shake, the hills tremble,
the mountains quake, and the earth open and swallow up their enemies." —

These are the leaders of the church,
and the only church on earth the Lord beholds with approbation.

Surely, I never witnessed so much confusion
and discord, among the Elders of any other church; nevertheless they are all doomed to be a perpetual curse; except they receive
the doctrines and precepts which Mormonism inculcates, and place themselves under the tuition of men, more ignorant and unholy
than themselves.

In the midst of meditations like these,
I sunk into the arms of sleep, but was awakened at a late hour, to witness and consent to a reconciliation between the parties.

The next morning Joseph manifested an
aversion to risk his person any more upon the rough and angry current of the Missouri, and, in fact, upon any other river;
and he again had recourse to his usual method, of freeing himself from the embarrassments of a former commandment, by obtaining
another in opposition to it.

A new commandment was issued, in which
a great curse was pronounced against the waters: navigating them was to be attended with extreme danger; and all the saints,
in general, were prohibited in journeying upon them, to the promised land. From this circumstance, the Missouri river was
named the river of Destruction.

It was decreed that we should proceed
on our journey by land, and preach by the way as we passed along. Joseph, Sidney, and Oliver were to press their way forward
with all possible speed, and to preach only in Cincinnati;
and there they were to lift up their voices, and proclaim against the whole of that wicked city.

The method by which Joseph and Co. designed
to proceed home, it was discovered, would be very expensive. "The Lord don't care how much money it takes to get us home,"
said Sidney.

Not satisfied with the money they received
from the bishop, they used their best endeavors to exact money from others, who had but little, compared with what they had;
telling them, in substance "You can beg your passage on foot, but as we are to travel in the stage we must have money."

You will find, sir, that the expense
of these three men was one hundred dollars more than three of our company expended, while on our journey home; and, for the
sake of truth and honesty, let these men never again open their mouths, to insult the common sense of mankind, by contending
for equality, and the community of goods in society, until there is a thorough alteration in their method of proceeding.

It seems, however, they had drained
their pockets, when they arrived at Cincinnati, for there
they were under the necessity of pawning their trunk, in order to continue their journey home. Here they violated the commandment,
by not preaching; and when an inquiry was made respecting the cause of that neglect, at one time they said they could get
no house to preach in; at another time they stated that they could have had the court-house, had they stayed a day or two
longer, but the Lord made it known to them that they should go on; and other similar excuses, involving like contradictions.

Thus they turn and twist the commandments
to suit their whims, and they violate them when they please with perfect impunity. They can any time obtain a commandment
suited to their desires, and as their desires fluctuate and become reversed, they get a new one to supercede the other, and
hence the contradictions which abound in this species of revelation.

The next day after, we were cast upon
the shore, and had commenced our journey by land, myself and three others went on board of a canoe, and recommenced our voyage
down the river. From this time a constant gale of prosperity wafted us forward, and not an event transpired, but what tended
to our advancement, until we arrived at our much desired homes.

At St.
Louis, we took passage in a steam-boat, and came to Wellsville; and from thence in the stage home.
We travelled afloat eight hundred miles farther than the three who took their passage in the stage, and arrived at our homes
but a few days later.—

It is true, we violated the commandment
by not preaching by the way, and so did they by not preaching at Cincinnati.
But it seems that none of us considered the commandment worthy of much notice.

In this voyage upon the waters, we demonstrated
that the great dangers existed only in imagination, and the commandment to be the offspring of a pusillanimous spirit. —

The spirit also revealed to Joseph,
that "on the steamboats, plots were already laid for our destruction." This too we proved to be false.

While descending the Missouri river,
Peter and Frederick, two of my company, divulged a secret respecting Oliver, which placed his conduct on a parallel with Ziba's;
for which Ziba [Peterson] was deprived of his Elder and Apostleship: "Let that which was bestowed upon Ziba be taken from
him, and let him stand as a member in the church, and let him labor with his own hands with the brethren." And thus by commandment,
poor Ziba, one of the twelve Apostles, is thrust down; while Oliver the scribe, also an Apostle, who had been guilty of similar
conduct, is set on high, to prepare work for the press; and no commandment touches him, only to exalt him higher. —

These two persons stated, that had they
known previous to their journey to Missouri, what they then
knew, they never should have accompanied Oliver thither.

Sidney, since his return has written a description of Zion.
But it differs essentially from that which you wrote; so much so, that either yours or his must be false.

Knowing him to be constitutionally inclined
to exaggerate, and suspecting that this habit would be as likely to preponderate in his written as in his oral communications,
you cautioned him against it. "What I write will be written by the most infallible inspiration of the holy spirit," said he
with an air of contempt. You must be careful, sir, or it will again sound in your ears, "if he repent not" for giving a false
description of the land of Zion,
let him take heed lest he fall from his office.

This, Sidney
said, was one reason why you was not permitted to return to the State of Ohio.

The want of time and paper warn me to
bring this letter to a close. And now permit me to entreat you, to candidly view the whole matter, from the commencement unto
the present time. Look at it with your eyes, and no longer suffer these strangers to blind your eyes, and daub you over with
their untempared mortar. Think how often you have been stumbled by these discordant revelations, false visions, and lying
prophecies. Put into practice the resolutions you expressed to me the morning after the collision in the school house, that
you would go home, and attend to your own business. Transfer the lands you hold in your hands, to the persons whose money
paid for it. Place yourself from under the influence of the men who have deceived you; burst asunder the bands of delusion;
fly for your life, fly from the habitations haunted by impostors; and having done this, you most surely will be glad and rejoice,
and prove to your own satisfaction, as I have done, the falsity of Joseph's prophetic declaration, "if you turn against us
you will enjoy no more satisfaction in the world."

E. B.

Some things are intimated in the foregoing
letter, which more properly belongs to Cowdery's mission to the Indians; and when I come to notice that mission, those things
will probably be more fully exhibited.

It is also indirectly stated, that Rigdon
has acquired the habit of exaggeration. The truth of this statement, I presume, will be doubted but by few, who have been
long acquainted with him. Most of his communications carry the appearance of high and false coloring; and I am persuaded,
that truth by this embellishing touch, often degenerates into fiction.

I have heard him several different times,
give a representation of the interview between himself, and to use his own phraseology, "the far-famed Alexander Campbell."
This man's wonted shrewdness and presence of mind forsook him when in the presence of this gigantic Mormonite; so much so,
that "he was quite confused and silly."

I will give you a specimen of the language,
with which Rigdon said he assailed him: "You have lied, Alexander. Alexander you have lied. If you do not receive the Book
of Mormon, you will be damned." With such like arguments [210] he brow-beat his antagonist, until he had silenced and set
him down, like the pusillanimous cur, at the feet of his chastising master.

"You are a liar, you are a child of
the Devil, you are an enemy to all righteousness, and the spirit of the Devil is in you," and the like is dealt out profusely
against an obstinate opponent, and especially, one whom they are pleased to nickname apostate. I regret the necessity I am
under of making such statements, and could wish there had been no occasion for them. But truth compels me to it, and the good
of society demands it. — Yours, &c.

EZRA BOOTH.

Letter 8

The origin of the aborigines of this
country, and the history before the introduction of the eastern literature into the western hemisphere, has afforded a subject
for much speculation, and deep research among the learned; and has occasioned considerable curiosity, among various classes
of people. But the subject still remains an impenetrable obscurity; and will so remain, unless He who has the power to speak,
"let there be light," and the light shall break forth out of obscurity. But as this is a subject better calculated to gratify
the speculative inquirer, than to purify the heart, by rectifying wrong principles in the mind, or to increase that kind of
knowledge intimately connected with, and essential to practical improvements either in civil or religious society, we may
reasonably doubt, whether the great Jehovah will soon, if ever, condescend to clear away the darkness, by giving a revelation,
merely to gratify the desires of persons, who delight to wander in the region of conjecture and speculation.

But he has already done it, cries the
Mormonite herald. The Book of Mormon, which I hold in my hand, is a divine revelation, and the very thing we need, to burst
the cloud and remove the darkness, which has long surrounded the mysterious and degraded aborigines.

We now know that the natives who inhabit
the forests of America, are a "branch of the House of Israel;" and by means of this blessed book, they are soon, even in this
generation, to be restored to the knowledge, and the true worship of the God of Israel.—Among them is to be built, the
"glorious city of the New Jerusalem." In the midst of which is to stand, the splendid and magnificent temple, dedicated to
the Most High God, and "Oliver being called and commanded of the Lord God, to go forth among the Lamanites, to proclaim glad
tidings of great joy unto them, by presenting unto them, the fullness of the gospel of the only begotten son of God," &c.

The grand enterprise of introducing
this new dispensation, or the fullness of the Gospel, among the Indian tribes, who have recently received the appellation
of Lamanites, was committed in charge to Oliver Cowdery, a young man of high fame among the Mormonites. His credentials, and
the credentials of the three others associated with him in the mission, will be found in the following revelations, which
I transcribe for your perusal, and also for some future remarks, which I design to offer.

A REVELATION UNTO OLIVER,
GIVEN SEPTEMBER, 1830.

Behold, I say unto you Oliver, that
it shall be given thee, that thou shalt be heard by the Church in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the comforter,
concerning the revelations and commandments which I have given.

But verily, verily I say unto you, no
one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in the Church, excepting my servant Joseph, for he receiveth
them even as Moses,

and thou shalt be obedient unto the
things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power
and authority unto the Church.

And if thou art led at any time by the
comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the Church, thou may'st do it;

but shalt not write by the way of commandment,
but by wisdom:

and thou shalt not command him who is
at thy head, and at the head of the Church; for I have given him the keys of the mysteries of the revelations which are sealed,
until I shall appoint unto him another in his stead

And now behold I say unto you, that
thou shalt go unto the Lamanites, and preach my Gospel unto them, and cause my Church to be established among them; and thou
shalt have revelations, but write them not by way of commandment.

And now I say unto you, that it is not
revealed, and no man knoweth where the City shall be built, but it shall be given hereafter.

Behold, I say unto you, that it shall
be among the Lamanites.

Thou shalt not leave this place until
after the Conference, and my servant Joseph shall be appointed to rule the Conference, by the voice of it: and what he saith
unto thee that thou shalt tell.

And again, thou shalt take thy brother
Hiram between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me, and
that Satan hath deceived him,

for these things have not been appointed
unto him,

neither shall any thing be appointed
to any in this Church, contrary to the Church Covenant, for all things must be done in order, and by commandment, by the prayer
of faith,

and thou shalt settle all, these things,
before thou shalt take thy journey among the Lamanites;

and it shall be given from time to time,
that thou shalt go, until the time that thou shalt return, what thou shalt do;

and thou must open thy mouth at all
times, declaring my Gospel with the sound of rejoicing.—Amen.

MANCHESTER, October 17, 1830.

I, Oliver, being commanded of the Lord
God to go forth unto the Lamanites, to proclaim glad tidings of great joy unto them, by presenting unto them the fullness
of the gospel, of the only begotten son of God; and also, to rear up a pillar as a witness where the temple of God shall be
built, in the glorious New Jerusalem; and having certain brothers with me, who are called of God to assist me, whose names
are Parley, Peter, and Ziba, do therefore most solemnly covenant with God, that I will walk humbly before him, and do this
business, and this glorious work according as he shall direct me by the Holy Ghost; ever praying for mine and their prosperity,
and deliverance from bonds, and from imprisonment, and whatsoever may befall us, with all patience and faith.—Amen.
OLIVER COWDERY.

We, the undersigned, being called and
commanded of the Lord God, to accompany our brother Oliver Cowdery to go to the Lamanites and to assist in the above mentioned
glorious work and business. We do therefore, most solemnly covenant before God, that we will assist him faithfully in this
thing, by giving heed unto all his words and advice, which is, or shall be given him by the spirit of truth, ever praying
with all prayer and supplication, for our and his prosperity, and our deliverance from bonds, and imprisonments, and whatsoever
may come upon us, with all patience and faith.—Amen.

Signed in the presence
of

JOSEPH SMITH, Jun.

DAVID WHITMER.

P. P. PRATT,

ZIBA PETERSON,

PETER WHITMER.

In the preceding revelation, the principal
thing which claims your attention, is the mission to the Indians; for with that mission many circumstances are connected,
which clearly evince, that it originated from human imbecility, and diabolical depravity.

There are also some other things the
meaning of which you will not be likely to apprehend, without some explanation. In this, as well as several of the commandments,
it is clearly and explicitly stated, that the right of delivering written commandments, and revelations, belong exclusively
to Smith, and no other person can interfere, without being guilty of sacrilege. In this office he is to stand, until another
is appointed in his place, and no other can be appointed in his stead, unless he falls through transgression; and in such
a case, he himself is authorized to appoint his successor.

But how is he to be detected, should
he become guilty of transgression. The commandment makes provision for this. His guilt will become manifest by his inability
to utter more revelations, and should he presume "to get another man's wife," and commit adultery; and "by the shedding of
blood, seek to kill her husband,"

if he retain the use of his tongue,
so as to be able to utter his jargon, he can continue as long as he pleases in the bed of adultery, and wrap himself with
garments stained with blood, shed by his own hands, and still retain the spotless innocence of the holiest among mortals;
and must be continued in the office of revelator, and head of the church.

Here is a mystery, for aught I know,
peculiar to Mormonism; and none but Mormonites, I presume, will attempt to unravel it. But it finds its parallel in the following:
Smith asures his followers, that what he speaks by the spirit, and is written, is infallible in operation, but if it is not
written, he may sometimes be mistaken.—

He tells them that the right to deliver
written revelations, belongs exclusively to himself, and no other person shall interfere in the business; and if he transgresses
he will graciously condescend to appoint another in his stead, and the only proof produced for the support of such assertions,
is barely his word, upon which they implicitly rely, and because entirely resigned to place their person and property under
his control, and even risk the salvation of their souls upon his say-so. Such glaring duplicity on the one hand, and unaccountable
credulity on the other, seldom have a parallel in the annals of man.

Never was there a despot more jealous
of his prerogative than Smith; and never was a fortress guarded with more vigilance and ardor against every invading foe,
than he guards these. Smith apprehended a rival in the department of written inspiration, from another quarter, and hence
Cowdery was commissioned to commence an attack and suppress the enemy, before he had acquired sufficient stability and strength
so as to become formidable. "Thou shalt take thy brother Hiram, between him and thee alone, and tell him that the things he
hath written from that stone, &c."

Hiram Page, one of the eight witnesses,
and also one of the "money diggers," found a smooth stone, upon which there appeared to be a writing, which when transcribed
upon paper, disappeared from the stone, and another impression appeared in its place. This when copied, vanished, and so it
continued, alternately appearing and disappearing; in the meanwhile, he continued to write, until he had written over considerable
paper. It bore striking marks of a Mormonite revelation, and was received as an authentic document by most of the Mormonites,
till Smith, by his superior sagacity, discovered it to be a Satanic fraud.

A female professing to be a prophetess,
made her appearance in Kirtland, and so ingratiated herself into the esteem and favor of some of the Elders, that they received
her, as a person commissioned to act a conspicuous part in Mormonizing the world. Rigdon, and some others, gave her the right
hand of fellowship, and literally saluted her with what they called the kiss of charity. But Smith, viewing her as an encroachment
upon his sacred premises, declared her an impostor, and she returned to the place from whence she came. Her visit, however,
made a deep impression on the minds of many, and the barbed arrow which she left in the hearts of some, is not yet eradicated.

Yours affectionately, EZRA
BOOTH.

Letter 9

In this letter the mission to the Indians
will be brought into view, and with it, are connected circumstances and facts, sufficient, one would suppose, to convince
every honest and unprejudiced Mormonite, of the fallacy and deception of Mormonism. But a Mormonite of the highest grade,
is invulnerable by facts the most notorious, and evidence as glaring as the noon-day sun; for they affirm, they know by the
spirit that Mormonism is what it pretends to be; and should Smith acknowledge it to be a fabrication, they would not believe
him. This forms the highest climax in Mormonism, and but few have attained to it.

After Cowdery, and his three associates
had left the state of New York, while bending their course
to the west, he was directed by the spirit to Kirtland, for the special purpose of enlisting Rigdon in the Mormonite cause.
I have since learned, that the spirit which directed in this enterprise, was no other than Pratt, who had previously become
acquainted with Rigdon, and had been proselyted by him into what is called the Campbellite faith.

This new system appears to have been
particularly suited to Rigdon's taste, and calculated to make an impression on his mind. But before he could fully embrace
it, he must "receive a testimony from God." In order to this, he labored as he was directed by his Preceptor, almost incessantly
and earnestly in praying, till at length, his mind was wrapped up in a vision; and to use his own language, "to my astonishment
I saw the different orders of professing Christians passing before my eyes, with their hearts exposed to view, and they were
as corrupt as corruption itself. That society to which I belonged also passed before my eyes, and to my astonishment, it was
as corrupt as the others. Last of all that little man who bro't me the Book of Mormon, passed before my eyes with his heart
open, and it was as pure as an angel; and this was a testimony from God; that the Book of Mormon, was a Divine Revelation".

Rigdon is one who has ascended to the
summit of Mormonism; and this vision stands as the foundation of his knowledge. He frequently afhrms [affirms], that these
things are not a matter of faith with him, but of absolute knowledge. He has been favored with many extraordinary visions,
in some of which he saw Kirtland with the surrounding country, consecrated as the promised land, and the churches in the state
of New York expected to receive their everlasting inheritance in the State of Ohio, and this expectation was grounded upon Rigdon's vision in the State of New York. These visions are considered by the church as entitled to no credit, and laid
aside as mere rubbish.

As it relates to the purity of the heart
of "that little man", if a pure and pleasant fountain can send forth corrupt and bitter streams, then may the heart of that
man be pure, who enters into a matrimonial contract with a young lady, and obtains the consent of her parents; but as soon
as his back is turned upon her, he violates his engagements, and prostitutes his honor by becoming the gallant of another,
and resolved in his heart, and expresses resolutions to marry her. But as the practice of a man will ever stand as a general
criterion by which the principles of the heart are to be tested, we say, that the heart of such a man is the reverse of purity.

From Kirtland, Cowdery & Co. were
directed by the spirit to Sandusky, where they contemplated
opening their mission, and proselyting the Indians residing at that place. But neither Cowdery, nor the spirit which directed
him, was able to open the way to, or make any impressions upon their minds. Being frustrated in this, his first attempt to
convert the natives, he turned his attention and course to Missouri,
and when near the eastern line of that state, he halted for several days, for the purpose of obtaining, by inquiry, information
respecting the Indians, still further west. It appears that he was fearful that his infallible guide, (the spirit,) was incapable
to direct him, while proceeding further to the west; consequently, he applied to men more capable of giving instruction than
the spirit, by which he was influenced.

When he arrived at the western line
of Missouri, he passed it into the Indian territory, where he continued but a short time,
before he was notified by the U. S. Agent, that he must either re-pass the line, or be compelled to take his residence in
the garrison, forty miles up the Arkansas river. As there was no other alternative, the former
seemed to him the most expedient; and he never possessed courage sufficient to pass the line, or visit the residence of the
Indians since.

Thus you behold a man, "called and commanded
of the Lord God, to go forth unto the Lamanites," and establish his Church among them; but no sooner is he set down in the
field of his mission, and surrounded by his anticipated converts, than he is driven by a comparative nothing, from the field,
and obliged to relinquish his contemplated harvest. —

This is the person commissioned by the
Lord to proceed the western wilds, and as he himself stated, "to the place where the foot of a white man never trod," ["]to
rear up a pillar for a witness, where the Temple of God shall be built in the glorious New-Jerusalem." But alas! he was arrested by man
in his course, and by the breath of man the mighty undertaking was blown into the air, and Cowdery was thrown back among the
Gentiles, to wait for the spirit to devise some new plans in the place of those which had been frustrated.

But as the city and temple must be built,
as every avenue leading to the Indians was closed against the Mormonites, it was thought that they should be built among the
Gentiles, which is in direct opposition to the original plan—as foreign from the design of the spirit, expressed in
several commandments, as it would have been, had the Directors, who were appointed to build the court-house in Ravenna, built
it in Trumbull county, foreign from the design of those who intrusted them with the business.

Though their plans had hitherto failed,
they were unwilling to abandon the Indian enterprise; and in a commandment it was stated, that Cowdery and others should receive
a written recommendation, signed by the Elders, for the purpose of presenting it to the Indian agent, in order to obtain permission
to visit the Indians in their settlements. —

The recommendation was written according
to commandment, and frequent opportunities occurred in which it might have been presented to the agent, but it never was presented,
and of course was useless; he was censured by some for not presenting it, but I suppose the spirit directed him not to do
it.

Another method has been invented, in
order to remove obstacles which hitherto had proved insurmountable. "The Lord's store-house," is to be furnished with goods
suited to the Indian trade, and persons are to obtain license from the government to dispose of them to the Indians in their
own territory; at the same time they are to disseminate the principles of Mormonism among them. From this smugling method
of preaching to the Indians, they anticipate a favorable result.

In addition to this, and to co-operate
with it, it has been made known by revelation, that it will be pleasing to the Lord, should they form a matrimonial alliance
with the Natives; and by this means the Elders, who comply with the thing so pleasing to the Lord, and for which the Lord
has promised to bless those who do it abundantly, gain a residence in the Indian territory, independent of the agent.

It has been made known to one, who has
left his wife in the State of New York, that he is entirely
free from his wife, and he is at pleasure to take him a wife from among the Lamanites. It was easily perceived that this permission
was perfectly suited to his desires. I have frequently heard him state, that the Lord had made it known to him, that he is
as free from his wife as from any other woman; and the only crime I have ever heard alleged against her is, she is violently
opposed to Mormonism. But before this contemplated marriage can be carried into effect, he must return to the State of New York and settle his business, for fear, should he return after
that affair had taken place, the civil authority would apprehend him as a criminal. pleasure: liberty in the Ohio Star.

It is with pleasure I close this exposition,
having in part accomplished, what I intended when I commenced it. The employment has been an unpleasant one to me, and from
the first, I should have gladly avoided it, could I have done it, and maintained a conscience void of offence, towards God
and man. — But should an individual by this exposition, be extricated or prevented from falling into the delusion, which
has been the subject of consideration, I shall be amply compensated, for the painful task which I have performed.